Hafrahvammagljúfur is a majestic canyon located in the Jökuldalur valley in East Iceland, roughly eight kilometres in length. Although not the country’s widest canyon, its depth reaches a staggering 200 metres, rivalling some of Iceland’s most profound natural formations. The canyon is meticulously carved by the Jökulsá á Dal river and has a captivating charm with spectacular rock formations, so grand and tall that they will leave you speechless and humble. The river flows through the canyon with turquoise waters that contrast starkly with the dark and terrific rockface of the canyon walls. At the top end of the canyon is a dam and in August the overflow from there changes the colour of the water from beautiful turquoise to muddy brown. It is different but beautiful in its rawness.
Hafrahvammagljúfur
East, Iceland
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Climate
The weather in the East of Iceland is characterized by its cool and maritime climate. Winters are cold with temperatures often dropping below freezing, and snowfall is common. Summers are relatively mild. Fog is occasionally present along the coast. In the region, the combination of its rugged fjords and extensive coastal line can create harsh and unpredictable winds. The fjords act as natural wind channels, amplifying the force of the prevailing North Atlantic winds that sweep across the region. These winds can be particularly biting in the winter months, making the already cold temperatures feel even more frigid. The coastal areas are susceptible to strong gusts, especially during storms.
Data source Temperature averages
Lighting
The longest day in Iceland is multiple days from May through July when the sun doesn't set. The daylight hours in Iceland on the shortest days of the year are 4-5 hours per day (December to January).
Data source Accessibility
This location is roughly 10 kilometres from the Kárahnjúkar dam. From road 910, there lies a rough gravel road, 2-kilometres-long, that leads you to the parking lot. From the parking lot, a 720 metres easy hike takes you to the main viewing platform. With permission, you could use 4-wheelers to transport gear to the platform.
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Basecamp and facilities
There is a medium-sized parking lot for the canyon’s main viewing platform. The surrounding landscape is vast gravel tundra that could be used as a large basecamp with special permission and guidelines from the energy company managing the site. Kárahnjúkar dam lies only 10 kilometres away with a large parking lot and basic facilities.
Risk factors
The canyon is 200 meters tall, and the cliff edges are very unstable. Wind can be treacherous in these areas and the vegetation close the edges is slippery and declining downwards.
Visitors
The location is en-route to a medium/high tourist attraction in the highlands, few hikers venture down into the canyon from the viewpoint, mostly people tend to stop for an hour or so for a picture.
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